June The newly formed 148th MP Platoon moved to Can Tho, at the IV Corps Provost Marshal Headquarters, in the Mekong Delta region. Operationally they were assigned to the IV Corps Provost Marshal Office, and the 557th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion for administrative and Logistical support.

     My Tho Detachment of the 148th MP Platoon, 95th MP Battalion, consisting of nine personnel, were all originally members of the 557th MP Company. Cay Lai on Highway QL4 was discussed as a possible location for the detachment but due to heavy enemy activity and lack of close allied support My Tho was chosen as the detachment assignment instead.

        The detachment billets were located in a two story building called the Armor House, an old villa. The building was the base of the eighteen man Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) Team #75 assigned as advisors to the 6th ARVN Armored Cavalry. The MPs of the detachment were nicknamed by the MACV Team #75 as the "Rat Patrol" after a popular WWII North African Campaign theme television show of that time.

        The detachment mission was to provide Discipline, Law and Order patrols in the town and surrounding areas. They worked combined patrols with the local Vietnamese National Police (Canh Sat's).

1 February At 1520 hours [3:20 PM] the Mobile Riverine Force [MRF] comprised of elements of the U.S. Navy, 3rd Battalion, 9th U.S. Infantry Division, and Army Of The Republic Of South Vietnam [ARVN] 7th Infantry Division, landed at My Tho on the southwestern edge of the city.

     The MRF started to move into the city and was engaged by VC forces in a fierce street to street and house to house battle which lasted until 2100 hours [9:00 PM]. By then most of the firing had ceased with the exception of sporadic sniper and occasional grenade attacks. Throughout the night VC forces began to attempt a withdrawal from the city.

2 February The Mobile Riverine Force elements continued their attack against the remaining VC forces in the city and received light resistance. The MRF blocking forces in the outskirts of the city became engaged in the battle with the fleeing VC units.

1 May PFC Joseph F. Lodise, Jr.   a member of the 148th MP Platoon, was the turret gunner on a V100 from the Vinh Long Detachment that responded to the aid of some elements of the 9th Infantry Division engaged in a fire fight with the Viet Cong on Highway QL4 in the My Tho area. PFC Lodise died from an electrical malfunction of the turret guns during the fire fight.

But For The Grace of God  "As best I can recall a captain was sent down to the 148th in Vinh Long from Saigon to conduct an evaluation of the mission that we were tasked with in the Delta. It seemed as if it was a kind of "what are we accomplishing in the Delta, how are we doing it, and how successful are we" kind of inspection. It was not an I.G. type of inspection. It was somewhat informal in nature.

     There were two V100’s sent out on that mission. If I recall correctly there were two crew each plus the Captain from Saigon. 1LT Nicholson, our platoon leader, may also have gone on it but I just don't remember. The only other person I remember going out on that missions was an F. Glenn Schaeffer.

     I remember him quite well because I got in touch with him back in 1989 when I went searching for Joe's parents. I wanted to talk to them about that day, and Joe. I felt somewhat responsible for Joe's death. I had been tagged for that mission but pitched a bitch to the Lieutenant since I had not had a day off in quite a while, and that day was to be my first one off. Joe overheard me talking to the Lieutenant and came up to me and said that he wanted to go instead. He had never been out on a mission up to that point, was recently new to the unit and was anxious to get involved. I went with him to talk to the lieutenant who agreed to the switch. I went down to the V100 with Joe and explained what his job was as the gunner. He said he felt comfortable enough to go on the mission and the rest is history.

      In any event I had remembered that Glenn was from the Philadelphia area. I called directory assistance and obtained Glenn Schaffers parents phone number and in turn his. Glenn and I talked for a while and I obtained Joe's parents phone number. I called them and told them the story about what happened that day. They had never heard that side of of the story. We had a good talk and I got directions from them to the cemetery where Joe was buried. I was working in Washington D.C. at the time so I took a day off and drove up to Philadelphia and visited his grave and finally made my peace with hi." PFC Ronald P. Regulski, 148th MP Platoon, 92nd MP Battalion, 89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade, August 1967 to August 1968.

His Name Was Manh  Life in most circumstances is often an unhappy time for any orphaned boy, especially in the war zone. But for one 13-year-old My Tho youth, a lot of the bleakness has been lessened, for he has found a home and family.

        Home and family for Manh isn't an orphanage or the My Tho streets but the Combined Police Station and the men of a detachment of the 188th Military Police Company.

        "We found him in August of 1968 living in a truck," remarked Sergeant Jessee J. Jones, Jr. of New York City. "He would come over every morning with a tooth brush and wash cloth in hand to the station water point.

        "After several days he got friendlier and hung around more often, often running errands for ourselves or the QC's [Quan Canh's - Vietnamese Military Police]. He picked up some English and soon became a part of the station," said SGT Jones.

        The boy slept on an Army cot and would get up every morning to clean the station without being asked. The MP's donated clothes and other necessities from time to time, but it was Jones who "adopted" Manh.

        "We think his parents were killed in "1968 by the Viet Cong,"added Jones. "He had been scrounging for food and clothes and usually slept in the old truck. Now, at least, he has a place to sleep, clothes and a few friends.

        "Manh has learned to speak English so well that we use him as an interpreter. He is especially familiar with terms used in military police work and so is helpful in speaking with the QC's who do not speak English.

        "Manh could have became just another youth with no place to go but the streets," said SGT Jones. "But now he has some purpose and something to do. Manh likes it here, and we are glad to have him." The 18th MP Brigade News Paper, The Roundup, April 1970, Author Unknown

WANTED: Photographs of Manh and any information on what happened to him as the years passed. Use the Email Link at the top of this page to contact the History Project Manager.

31 January On the one year anniversary of his death, the 1st Platoon, 188th MP Company, 92nd MP Battalion, Commanded by CPT Gary M. Freedman, dedicated a monument to SP/4 Leon J. Shrum, 148th MP Platoon, in My Tho.

     Right: The monument consisting of a plaque on a cement pedestal was erected where SP/4 Shrum died in the Tet ambush >

June The My Tho Detachment was assigned to the MACV (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) Advisory Team #75 Detachment just outside of the town, billeted in an old seminary monastery. The detachment patroled Highway QL-4, "Ambush Alley," provided security for the highway mine sweep teams in the mornings, as well as assisted the local ARVN units.